Vanessa Olivarez

Vanessa Denae Olivarez (born April 7, 1981, in Sugar Land, Texas) is an American singer and songwriter who is the vocalist/songwriter/autoharpist for the alt country band Granville Automatic, who has written songs for country superstars Sugarland, and appeared on the second season of the television series American Idol. She also had a Top 10 pop single in Canada.

Songwriting career

In 2010, she co-founded the alt-country band Granville Automatic, in which she is the vocalist and a primary songwriter. The band currently tours nationally and is featured in the third season of the PBS show Sun Studio Sessions. Their first album "Live from Sun Studio" was released 1/31/12. With Granville Automatic co-songwriter Elizabeth Elkins of The Swear, Olivarez was named 2012 Composer in Residence in Seaside, Fla.'s prestigious Escape to Create program, where the duo wrote an album of Civil War songs.

Olivarez co-wrote a song for Sugarland called "Sugarland", which appeared on their Enjoy the Ride album. She also co-wrote two other Sugarland songs: "50 Cent Lovin'" and "I Won't Cry For You".

Right after Idol, Olivarez was contacted by Canadian songwriter/actor James Collins and he brought Vanessa to Toronto, Canada, to write and record some new music. Her first single, the song "The One", (written by Olivarez, James Collins and Dave Pickell), with "I'm In Love With My Best Friend's Ex" as a B-Side, reached number nine on Canada's single charts & Top 30 on the Canadian BDS airplay chart. Although another of her songs, entitled "As Vain As You"(also co-written with Collins & Pickell), ended up on a "Girls Night Out 3" compilation, Olivarez did not release any albums in Canada. She did, however, star in the seven month 2004 Toronto production of Hairspray, in the lead role of Tracy Turnblad. It was for this role that Vanessa was nominated for a Dora Award in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role-Musical.

Olivarez is also a former lead singer of country act South 70.

American Idol

Olivarez auditioned for American Idol's second season with a rendition of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 2002. Paula Abdul was not present for Olivarez's audition, but both Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson were impressed by Olivarez and put her through to Hollywood. Olivarez impressed the judges once again during a round where contestants had to write their own songs. Olivarez wrote the song "The Only Thing Special About You Is Me". She was then placed in the top 32 contestants of the season. Olivarez performed for the first time in front of America on February 18, 2003. She sang Irene Cara's "Out Here on My Own". The judges were impressed, but Cowell told Olivarez that she needed to lose weight. She received encouragement from Abdul and Jackson, and was voted into the top 12 by America. Olivarez performed once again on March 11, singing The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On". Controversy began here when host Ryan Seacrest interviewed Olivarez after the performance and she read a scripted comment that many viewers thought to be rude. Seacrest later reminded viewers that Olivarez's comment was previously scripted, but many believe that this still hurt Olivarez's chances in the competition. Olivarez landed in the show's bottom three and was eliminated on March 12, 2003.

Discography

Albums

Granville Automatic - "Granville Automatic" Release date: May 1, 2012
Granville Automatic - "Live from Sun Studio" Release date: January 31, 2012

Singles

Music Information
The One Released: 2003 Charts: Number 9 Canada.

Music Information
The One (The Remixes) Released: 2008

External links

• Vanessa Olivarez at American Idol
• Granville Automatic
• "The One" hit number 9 in Canada